Pneumatic clean out tool



March l0, 1964 P. R. YATES PNEUMATIC CLEAN oUT TooL Filed Dec. 5, 1960 2Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY March 10, 1964 P. R. YATEs 3,124,205

PNEUMATIC CLEAN OUT TOOLl Filed Dec. 5. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l 4a@ "Q72 56 PAUL R. YATES INVENTOR.

FIG. 2

FIG. 2A

ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,124,205 PNlElUh/A'IEC CLEAN GUT TLPaul It. Yates, i020 NW. Slet, @klahoma City, lrla.,

assigner of thirty-three and one-third percent to William H. Lamhdin andthirty-three and one-third percent to Geroid Anthony Shideil, @MahomaCity, Ghia.

Filed Dee. 5, i968, Ser. No. 73,730

Claims. (Ci. l75-93) The present invention relates to the oil industryand more particularly to a clean out tool.

In drilling and equipping an oil well for production it is frequentlynecessary to form a cement or other type plug within the bore hole orwithin the casing and thereafter remove the plug and clean out the hole.

The principal object of the instant invention is to provide a tool forthe breaking up and removal of such a plug or bridge.

Another object is to provide a clean out tool which may be run on a wireline.

Still another object is to provide a clean out tool which includes anair chamber containing air under pressure which when released willactuate the tool in a drilling action on the obstruction within thewell.

Still another object is to provide a tool of this class in which the airchamber may be recharged with compressed air and the tool usedrepeatedly without disassembly.

A further object is to provide a tool of this class which utilizescompressed air in combination with hydrostatic pressure within a well toactuate the tool in a vertically reciprocating action.

The present invention accomplishes these and other objects by providingan elongated tubular housing adapted to be connected to a wire line atone end and having a drill shoe connected to its other end. A pair ofspacedapart movable pistons seal with the wall forming the bore of thehousing to provide an air chamber intermediate the ends of the housing.The compressed air is released from the chamber to force the tooldownwardly.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying two sheets of drawings, wherein:

FIGURES l, 1A and 1B are vertical cross-sectional views, partly inelevation, of the upper, medial and lower sections, respectively, of thedevice;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIG. l, illustrating the plunger inlowered position;

FIGURE 2A is a View similar to FIG. 1A, illustrating the pistons in airreleasing position;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are horizontal cross-sectional views taken substantiallyalong the lines 3--3 and 4 4 of FIGS. 1A and lB, respectively; and,

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross-sectional View, to an enlarged scale, ofone of the pistons, per se.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in those figures ofthe drawings in which they occur.

In the drawings.

The reference numeral lll indicates the device, as a whole, comprisingthree elongated tubular body sections A, B and C. The top of the sectionA is provided with a head l2 rigidly secured thereto as by welding. Thehead 12 includes a skirt portion i4 of a reduced diameter having adownwardly tapered surface 16. An elongated plunger or mandrel i8y isclosely received in slidable relation by 3,l24,25 Patented Mar. I0, 1964the head 12. The depending end portion of the mandrel iscircumferentially enlarged, as at 2), and includes a central bore 22 ofa selected depth. A portion of the wall of the plunger adjacent theenlarged end portion is tapered, as at 2l, for contacting the headtapered portion 16 when lifting the tool. The upper end portion of themandrel 18 is centrally bored, as at 24, and circumferentially enlarged,as at 26, downwardly of the bore 24 for receiving a rope socket 28 andattaching a wire line 29 thereto. The upper end portion of the mandrel18 is provided with an enlarged elongated opening 30 adjacent the lowerend of the rope socket bore 26. The opening 30 is preferably largeenough to permit removal and insertion of the rope socket 28. The ropesocket 28 is maintained in assembled relation in its bore by a set screw32. Intermediate its ends and upwardly of the head 12 the mandrel 18 isprovided with a ilange 34 for limiting movement of the mandrel into thebarrel A.

A pair of cylindrical members 36 and 38 form tool joints for connectingthe body sections A, B and C. Each tool joint has the wall, forming thebore thereof, tapered outwardly at its respective ends, as at 40 and 42,for the purposes which will presently be apparent.

A tubular member 44 extends from a point below the barrel portion B andupwardly thereof a substantial distance into the barrel section A. Theupper end portion of the tubular member is externally threaded for thepurposes more fully explained hereinbelow. A pair of pistons 46 and 48are connected to the tubular member 44 within the tool joints 36 and 38,respectively. The upper piston is maintained at the desired location onthe tubular member by an annular stop 50 and a lock nut 52 threadedlyengaged with the tubular member. The lower piston 48 is secured to themember 44 by a similar stop 54 and a lock nut 56. The upper piston 46 istransversely divided, intermediate its ends, to form an upper section46A, an intermediate section 46B and a lower section 46C. The meetingedges of the respective sections are provided with co-operating annularrecesses 58, adjacent their peripheries, for receiving packing,preferably in the form of a pair of O-rings 6i). The O-rings, whencompressed by the nut 52, seal with the inner wall of the upper tooljoint 36. The upper section 46A of the piston 46 is provided with aplurality of recesses 62 which are open upwardly to the top of thepiston through co-operating openings 64. The lower piston 48 issimilarly formed of three sections 48A, 48B and 48C and includes a pairof O-rings 66 which seal with the inner wall of the tool joint 38. Theupper section 48A of the piston 48 is similarly provided with aplurality of recesses 68 in communication with vertical openings 7 0. Astop washer 72 is interposed between the lock nut 56 and the pistonsection 48C for limiting upward movement of the member 44 and thepistons 46 and 48. The stop washer 72 is provided with a plurality ofvertical openings 73 to quickly release air trapped within the member Cas more fully described hereinbelow. The pistons 46 and 48 and theirrespective tool joints 36 and 38 deiine an elongated air-tight chamber74 within the body section B. A plurality of guides 76 are secured tothe tubular member 44 intermediate its ends to add rigidity to thelatter. Each of the guides 76 are similarly provided with a plurality ofvertical apertures 78 forming passageways for quick release ofcompressed air upwardly through the chamber 74. A helical spring 80surrounds the upper threaded end portion of the tubular member 44 and isinterposed between the uppermost end of the tool joint 36 and a springadjusting nut 82. The purpose of the spring 80 is to normally maintainthe pistons 46 and 48 within the respective tool joint 36 and 38. Theuppermost end of the tubular member is provided with a conventional airinlet valve 84. Apertures 85 are formed in the wall of the piston rod44, between the pistons, for communication with the air chamber 74 tolill the latter with air under pressure. A pair of windows 86 is formeddiametrically opposite each other through the wall of the body section Afor access to the air valve 84.

The tubular member C, threadedly connected to the tool joint 38, isprovided with an internally threaded depending end for connection with ashoe 90. The shoe 90 includes a diametrically reduced sleeve-like upperend portion 92 which is closely received by the inner wall 94 of themember C. An outlet port 96 is formed in the wall of the member C formating and mis-mating with a similar outlet port 98 formed in the sleeveportion 92. An annular shoulder 100 formed on the inner wall of the shoeupwardly of its connection with the member C, forms a horizontal seatfor a Hap valve 102 which is hingedly connected with the wall at oneside of the shoe. The depending end of the shoe 90 is provided with aplurality of depending rod-like prongs 104 each having a sharpened orpointed free depending end 106. Intermediate their ends the prongs 104are circumferentially provided with a plurality of rigidly connecteddownwardly tapering knives or cutters S. In horizontal cross-sectioneach knife 108 is substantially triangular thus disposing one edge 110of the triangular shape outwardly of the periphery of the respectiveprong 104. The purpose of the prongs 104 and their respective knives 108is to pro- Y vide a means for imparting a drilling, breaking or cuttingaction to a bridge or plug, not shown, in the drilled hole as the toolis vertically reciprocated as more fully disclosed hereinbelow.

Operation In operation the device is assembled as disclosed hereinaboveand the plunger 18 is connected to the wire line 29. The air chamber 74is lled with air under a desired pressure. The device is lowered intothe well until the shoe 90 reaches the plug or bridge. As the device islowered into the well fluid enters the member'C through the flap valve102 trapping and compressing air within the upper end portion of themember C. The plunger 1S is then quickly lowered into contact with thespring adjusting nut 82 which forces the tube 44 and associated pistons46 and 48 downwardly against the resistance of the spring 80. The upperpiston 46 leaves the member 36 before the lower piston 48 leaves themember 38. Fluid, not shown, is usually present in the well and as thepiston 46 moves downwardly out of sealing contact with the member 36some of the compressed air within the chamber 74 rushes upwardly,through the recesses 62 and openings 64 in the piston 46, against thefluid column. The release of part of the compressed air against thefluid column forces the entire device downwardly and forces the prongs104 into the plug or bridge. When the sealing ring 66 of the lowerpiston 48 is out of sealing contact with the member 38, the air trappedin the upper end of the member C by hydrostatic pressure rushes throughthe openings 68 and 70 of the lower piston 48 to enter the chamber 74and replenish the supply of compressed air. The remaining air underpressure within the chamber 74, aided by the resiliency of the spring80, lifts the plunger 18 and repositions the pistons 46 and 48 withinthe respective members 36 and 38. Hydrostatic pressure in the wellsimultaneously enters the member C through the Hap valve 102 to replacethe air released from the upper end of the member C which tends to liftor force the tool upwardly. The weight of the plunger 18, resting on theadjusting nut 82, then forces the tube 44 downwardly to repeat the cycleuntil an equilibrium has been established between the air pressurewithin the chamber 74 and the hydrostatic pre..- sure. Continued releaseof the compressed air from the chamber 74 and the hydrostatic pressureof fluid in the well entering the member C causes the tool toreciprocate vertically resulting in a drilling action on the bridgeuntil the lower end section C of the device is filled, by hydrostaticpressure, with fluid and cuttings. The device is removed from the welland the shoe is rotated to align the port 98 with the port 96 to emptythe contained fluid and cuttings. The shoe is then rotated to itsoriginal position to mis-align the ports 96 and 98 and the air chamber74 is recharged. This completes one cycle of operation.

Obviously the invention is susceptible to some change or alterationwithout defeating its practicability, and I therefore do not wish to beconfined to the preferred embodirnent shown in the drawings anddescribed herein, further than I am limited by the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. An oil well clean out tool, comprising: an elongated tubular body; ahead closing the upper end of said body, said body having a pair ofvertically spaced-apart diametrically reduced areas formed on its innerwall intermediate its ends; a pair of pistons slidably received by thereduced areas of said body and forming a compressed air chamber; apiston rod interconnecting said pistons and eX- tending upwardly beyondthe uppermost piston; spring means connected with the upper end portionof said piston rod and normally urging said pistons into sealingrelation with the reduced areas of said body; a plunger slidablyreceived by said head, said plunger having a lower end portion adaptedfor contacting said piston rod and moving the latter downwardly; a flapvalve closing the lower end of said body; and a shoe connected with thelower end of said body.

2. A pneumatic well clean out tool, comprising: an elongated tubularbody, the inner wall of said body having a pair of diametrically reducedareas in vertically spacedapart relation; a head closing the upper endof said body; a pair of pistons slidably tted within said reduced areasand forming a compressed air chamber; a tubular piston rodinterconnecting said pistons, said piston rod having a closed lower endand having its other end extending beyond the uppermost limit of theupper piston, said piston rod having a plurality of apertures in itswall in that portion between said pistons; an air inlet valve secured tothe upper end portion of said piston rod, said body having an accessport in its wall adjacent said air inlet valve; a plunger slidablyreceived by said head, said plunger having a lower end portion adaptedfor contacting said piston rod and moving the latter downwardly; a iiapvalve closing the lower end portion of said body; and a shoe connectedwith the lower most end of said body.

3. Structure as specied in claim 2 and a spring interposed between theupper end portion of said piston and the upper one of the reduced areasof said body for normally urging said piston rod upwardly; and a stopcarried by the lower end portion of said piston rod for limiting theupward movement of the latter.

4. A pneumatic well clean out tool, comprising: an elongated three piecetubular body; a pair of tool joints threadedly interconnecting the threetubular body sections, said tool joints each having a bore diametricallyreduced with respect to the inside diameter of said body sections; ahead closing the upper end of the upper body section; a pair of pistonsslidably received in sealing relation by the wall forming the bore ofsaid tool joints and forming a compressed air chamber; a tubular pistonrod interconnecting. said pistons and extending beyond the upper limitof the uppermost said tool joint, said piston rod having a closed lowerend and having a series of ports in its wall area between said pistons;an air inlet valve secured to the upper end of said piston rod, theupper one of said body sections having an access port in itswalladjacent said air inlet valve; an adjusting nut threadedly engagedwith the upper end portion of said piston rod; a spring interposedbetween said adjusting nut and the upper one of said tool joints fornormally urging said pistons into sealing engagement with said tooljoints; a. stop connected with the lower end portion of said piston rodfor limiting the upward movement of the latter; a plunger slidablyreceived by the said head, said plunger having an upper end portionadapted for connection with a wire line, said plunger having an enlargedcentrally bored lower end portion for reception of the upper end portionof said piston rod and permitting Contact between the lower end of saidplunger and said adjusting nut for moving said piston rod and saidpistons downwardly; a centrally bored shoe connected with the lower endportion of said lowermost body section; and Valve means opening andclosing the bore of said shoe.

5. Structure as specied in claim 4 and a plurality of prongs dependingfrom said shoe; and a plurality of knives, triangular shaped inhorizontal cross section, connected with the periphery of each saidknife.

Short Feb. 18, 1930 Reynolds July 21, 1953

1. AN OIL WELL CLEAN OUT TOOL, COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED TUBULAR BODY; AHEAD CLOSING THE UPPER END OF SAID BODY, SAID BODY HAVING A PAIR OFVERTICALLY SPACED-APART DIAMETRICALLY REDUCED AREAS FORMED ON ITS INNERWALL INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS; A PAIR OF PISTONS SLIDABLY RECEIVED BY THEREDUCED AREAS OF SAID BODY AND FORMING A COMPRESSED AIR CHAMBER; APISTON ROD INTERCONNECTING SAID PISTONS AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY BEYONDTHE UPPERMOST PISTON; SPRING MEANS CONNECTED WITH THE UPPER END PORTIONOF SAID PISTON ROD AND NORMALLY URGING SAID PISTONS INTO SEALINGRELATION WITH THE REDUCED AREAS OF SAID BODY; A PLUNGER SLIDABLYRECEIVED BY SAID HEAD, SAID PLUNGER HAVING A LOWER END PORTION ADAPTEDFOR CONTACTING SAID PISTON ROD AND MOVING THE LATTER DOWNWARDLY; A FLAPVALVE CLOSING THE LOWER END OF SAID BODY; AND A SHOE CONNECTED WITH THELOWER END OF SAID BODY.